We all know The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly known as the Stimulus Bill, provides for a monetary boost for many parts of the U.S. economy. And since it is very expansive everyone, from small businesses to state governments, is cashing in, and rightfully so. The money is there, so one might as well take it and muffle the blow of the recession or offset it completely. What many people might not know is that the Stimulus Bill provides a substantial amount of money to nonprofits. Besides filling budget gaps and shortfalls, the stimulus money will expand nonprofits’ services and efforts, creating many jobs. This recession has changed the way a lot of us look at the economy and job market, and as a consequence many of us have had to widen our horizons.
Sifting through the dense text of the Stimulus Bill (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgibin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.pdf), funding for nonprofits is substantial and diverse. From health care to community assistance, the federal money provided for nonprofits has targeted noble efforts and will undoubtedly needs many people to assist in carrying out those efforts.
- $50 million for the creation of a program to help nonprofits provide aid to those severely affected by the economic crisis.
- $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, to protect arts-related jobs in the nonprofit sector.
- $200 million for AmeriCorps, for operating expenses and to pay education grants to members who have completed their terms of service.
- $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help nonprofits restore foreclosed properties,
- $2 billion to support community health centers.
- $120 million to encourage seniors to engage in community service.
- $100 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
- $50 million for the YouthBuild Program to help nonprofits provide construction training to young people.
Now, nonprofit work is not for everyone. The pay is not great and often times you are appointed or sent to regions you may not have initially considered. But in down times like this they are great opportunities to expand your skills, experience and resume, and use as a transition when between jobs or making a career change. And of course lets not forget the value of public service, a very admirable thing to be a part of. Additionally, nonprofits receiving money under the Stimulus Bill are expected to have clear goals and engage in outcome measurement, a system setup to analyze the effectiveness of the nonprofits receiving federal funds. These funds are dispersed through competitive federal grants or through states’ discretion.
With the stringent federal oversight on nonprofits receiving stimulus funding, positions in nonprofits will most likely be competitive and challenging. For future endeavors, this will look good on a resume since nonprofits are looking to hire individuals to show results. With such measured results in a high profile business being supported by the federal government, working with a nonprofit is not only great for your resume (show measured success, leadership, initiative, etc.) but can possibly open the door to greater opportunities not originally anticipated. After all, nonprofits are often nationally and globally focused initiatives with a diverse set of services.
